Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-08-30
PURPOSE OF G. A. r.
Memories of War should Pcrish-A Con-
tributor's Views.
NJ. A. DILLON,
Commander. iu-Chief.


To thC Editor Of the Register:
FAIRMONT, August 28--Many patriotic
people have been grleved by your mode Of
treating the q. A. K. They generally pre-
fer to suffer in silence, but you will per-
haps allow this protest from one who knows
that he utters the sincere sentiments of
thousands. No patriotic man ought to
have anything to do with the Grand Army
of the Republic. Whether it be a partisan
organization OF not, it has no excuse fo.'
existence. 1t is organized 10 perpetuate
memories which should be allowed to per
ish-memories which no man who loves
his country could wish to preserve. Let
the C. A. r alone. Let il perish, as all
organizations have perished which have
had for their Ohjecs the perpetuation of the
memories of fraternal war.
Why should DemOcrats-nay why
should anybOdy-be encouraged to give it
counteuanee? Why should journalists
affect to believe what they know to be
false, and aid in misleading the public
mind, as to the true character of this or
ganizatiou? Who, that observes, can fail
to perceive that although the large ma
iority of the members may be good men
who have Joined the organization from
none but good motives, or without any
considerable motive, and who, left to their
own Impulses, would never peryert it
from its profesSed purposes; yet the All
mating and active spirit which has been
breathed into the organization by selfish
and uuscrupulous and mAlignaut leaders
who would make it the servant of their
ambition, is n spirit that is hostile to
peace; that it is the
FELL SPIRIT or DIsCORD
and hate, filed with ''envy and hatred
and all uncharitableneSs. 1t is the dia-
bolical spirit of war which expelled peace
from this unhappy country and bars the
way against its return. The organization
is, therefore one TO be shunued and detest-
ed by all patriotic people. Are not the
people of this country weary OF the echoes
of the war? How long, OH Lord, how long,
are we condemned to hear the tiresome
"rub-a-dub-dub," to gaze upon the faded
tinsel and trappings h aRitdire, and TO be
narrowed by tales of slaughter and deyas-
tation done by our countrymen upon each
other?
What the peaeeable, well.hehaved peo-
pie of the country should do is to give the
truth utterance, and stand no longer in awe
of the bravado that has been used to dom
mate and suppress their honest sentiments.
The Grand Army of the Republic has es-
capped criticism. The body OF the citizens
have been disposed to regard it, some with
approval, others with indifference, still
Others with aversion or contempt. But all
with singular unanimity have exempted
the organization from criticism and have
either generally supported il or remsined
passive until, under such political whang-
doodles as Fairchild, Foraker and Tuttle,
it has developed into an arrogant and true
ulent abominatiou, carryinga about the
IMAGE or WAR
in time of peace, raiding the treasury, die
tating legislation, and demanding prefer
ment Of class. Let the q. A. K. go
hence. Let it alone. 1t will disappear
into oblivion under the judgment of mex
orable condemnation which Time reserves
for all associations organized to preserve
the memory Of bloodshed and strife. Mean
time speak Of il not at all, or characterize
il truly. 1t exists mainly TO keep alive
the bitter memories of war, and to main
tain, in their angry vitality, the sectional
4nimosities which once already culmi-
mated in the slaughter of thousands of
citizens and the total prostration of eleven
States. Let rs have done with preteuses.
Let us not feign belief in lie. and become
the scorn and the Jest of its patrons and its
propagators. AILoCUrUs.